# futile

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈfjuː.taɪl/ · frequency rank #17,367

## Definitions
1. Incapable of producing results, useless; doomed not to be successful; not worth attempting.
2. Insignificant; frivolous.

## Etymology
From Middle French futile, from Latin fūtilis.

## Easily confused with
- **future** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/futile-vs-future)
- **file** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/file-vs-futile)
- **fumble** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fumble-vs-futile)
- **facile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/facile-vs-futile)
- **fertile** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/fertile-vs-futile)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ffutile`, `ftuile`, `fuitle`, `futiel`, `futille`, `futlie`, `futtile`, `uftile`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/futile